Author Topic: CiviCase XML Schema's? (Read 1308 times)

rcancill · January 04, 2011, 05:10:24 am

I just implemented my second case type in CiviCase and love the end result. I am not however loving the process of creating the XML file. It seems that I always make errors. I finally searched the Internet and downloaded an open source XML Editor called Editix (there are many) which helped me locate the missing tags and fix the errors, note that CiviCase gives points to the line of code in its internal processor and offers no help in debugging the XML file.

If we must code XML files to implement cases, it would be wonderful if you provided an XML schema that an XML Editor could validate the file against as we are building it and therefore be sure that we are uploading a valid file. It took me well over an hour to debug the file. I was missing an <activity_type> tag based on bad copy and pasting of some activity types.

The XML Schema would be fantastic.

Long term, a set up program to eliminate the need for manual creation of the XML File would be fantastic. We would like to enable our clients (end users) to set up case types on their own without our assistance. Today that is not possible.

xavier · January 04, 2011, 06:27:50 am

Have you tried building the schema from an xml?

Have to admit I lost interest in xml related stuff a long time ago, but it was possible to build a dtd from an xml. Then you have to set the constraints (eg. if you can have only one tag, if one tag is mandatory...) but should give a starting point.

X+

Donald Lobo · January 04, 2011, 07:33:19 am

Would be great if your firm / your clients can help contribute code to do either / both of the below issues. I think moving the "xml schema" to a set of DB tables with an interface on top of it is the better way forward. If i had to guess this is a 60-80 hour project

lobo

rcancill · January 05, 2011, 08:09:36 am

We shall discuss this as a project. The ability to maintain the structure represented in the XML file via an application in CiviCASE seems to be a definite future requirement. I am sure that there are an equal number of organizations with well defined processes that can be implemented in CiviCase as there are those that are creating their process on the fly (as we are).

In all cases there will be a need to modify the structure and rules governing a case on an ongoing basis by an authorized administrator -- preferably a non-technical person.

Its been years since I've built a schema, and I look at a schema as a temporary fix here. Lets see if anyone else is interested and shares our concerns.

demeritcowboy · January 05, 2011, 01:57:52 pm

I'm trying to remember the reasoning for all this in the first place and I think it had to do with all the regional physician health programs having similar enough configs that to be able to share those configs by just passing around some files was preferred. Then priorities just simply dropped this kind of improvement far down the list.

I do see it as a barrier to adoption though. It's been on my personal "to think about" list for some time now.

Donald Lobo · January 05, 2011, 02:52:00 pm

a couple of reasons that we started to use xml:

1. the config info evolved in the first few releases and manipulating and changing a text file is way easier than db tables. Not a lot has changed with this info recently, so now might be a good time to put it in a table

2. we only needed to read and create a structure for the XML data, wheres we would need a CRUD interface for db tables. a lot more code. Started off as a prototype and we kept it there. No significant incentive to move away from it, though i do agree it is a HUGE barrier

lobo

ken · January 14, 2011, 12:53:58 am

Make-it-happen?

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Author Topic: CiviCase XML Schema's? (Read 1308 times)

rcancill

CiviCase XML Schema's?

xavier

Re: CiviCase XML Schema's?

Donald Lobo

Re: CiviCase XML Schema's?

rcancill

Re: CiviCase XML Schema's?

demeritcowboy

Re: CiviCase XML Schema's?

Donald Lobo

Re: CiviCase XML Schema's?

ken

Re: CiviCase XML Schema's?